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Jan
10
Naples Travel & Sightseeing Guide
Filed Under Italy
A trip to Naples
The narrow, winding streets of Naples host a variety of impressive marketplaces and ancient Italian architecture that add vibrant layers to holidays of any length. Expansive local museums, fine art galleries and extensive dining and nightlife options only add to the experience, making it easy to see why tourists continue to visit Naples year after year.
Flights to Naples
Capodichino Airport in Naples isn’t one of Italy’s busiest airports, though it’s a busy domestic terminal that ushers plenty of traffic into the southern region. This dual-terminal facility is busiest in the summer and receives most of its international traffic via a connecting flight in either Milan or Rome, though it does play host to a fair amount of international flights from nearby European countries. If you are looking for a cheap flight to Naples try lastminute.com. Shuttle buses from the airport are the main mode of transport to the city centre; and taxis are on standby outside of the Arrivals area.
Many visitors to Naples arrive by train via the Ferrivie dello Stato (FS). Regional connections are generally slow going and make frequent stops, while the Inter Regionale lines are a little faster. The fastest trains, Eurocity and Eurostar, are more expensive and getting your hands on tickets can be a hectic affair. The majority of bus traffic leaving town depart from the Piazza Garibaldi near the Stazione Centrale. This mode of transport benefits from extensive routes and cheaper fares, though travel time is generally longer than by rail.
Naples
Sightseeing in Naples
The number-one historic attraction at Naples is the Duomo at central piazza. This impressive piece of architecture dates back eight centuries and is always bustling with tourists. Near the Duomo, you’ll find the Chiesa dei Giroalamini, a beautiful Baroque style church.
The Palazzo Reale is a must-see for enthusiasts of fine architecture. This opulent palace was built over the course of 150 years and boasts impressive paintings and frescoes in a total of 30 rooms that are currently open to visitors. Vaulted ceilings, grand staircases and a library with texts that span the past two millennia are all in the mix here.
The list of attractions is long and varied. Castles, churches, museums and art galleries abound, most of which warrant a visit. While you may not have time to see everything you’d like to, you’ll certainly not regret any time spent sightseeing in Naples.
Fun by night – eating drinking and partying
Naples culinary claim to fame is nothing less than pizza itself. Locals claim that the very concept of this world-famous pie was born in Naples and you’ll find a pizzeria selling its own version on nearly every street corner. Fine Italian cuisine is a staple of local restaurants and international fare is featured on many menus as well. However, delicious pastas, mouth-watering sauces and the freshest seafood usually tempt visitors away from anything but local cuisine.
Live music plays in bars and nightclubs along the Piazza dei Martiri, as well as the Piazza San Pasquale and the Piazza Amedeo. Establishments in this area are busy early and then usually die down as party-goers move on to trendier areas such as Piazza Sannazzaro and Lungomare Mergellina. Students congregate in the old city, while sophisticates head for wine bars like Enoteca Belle donne and S’Moove.
Fun by day - shopping and activities
During the day, visitors spend time basking on the Bay of Naples, where the beaches are generally crowded. Daytrips to the outlying islands allow for more secluded coastal encounters. Shopping is popular in any of the main markets, where boutique retailers deal in fine Italian fashions and take-home gifts for friends and family.
Daytrips
Although Naples offers much to see and do, there are several exciting daytrips you can make from the city and still be back in time for a concert or a dinner. The most worthwhile destinations are Pompeii and Herculaneum, the two historic towns almost completely preserved after being buried in ash after the eruption of Mt Vesuvius in 79 AD. The sites can be easily reached by light rail within 30 minutes.
The same train continues on to Sorrento, about one hour from Naples. This less touristy resort town is great for wandering along the rugged coastline from where you can explore the glamorous Amalfi Coast and the island of Capri by ferry or hydrofoil.
Campi Flegrei, the Phlaegrean (‘burning’) Fields, are another point of interest since this region is highly volcanic and still shows some considerable seismic activity. Highlights include an amphitheatre, Pozzuoli Old City and Baia Castle. Take the subway from Central Station to get to Pozzuoli.
Must-see attractions
The most imposing architecture in Naples dates back to the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque epochs. The city boasts a striking 448 historical churches, many of them found in the historic centre, which is listed as a World Heritage site. The most significant place of worship is the jaw-dropping 13th century Cathedral of Naples, or the Duomo.
The beautiful, pedestrianised Piazza Plebiscito is flanked by the Royal Palace and the church of San Francesco di Paola, with the colonnades expanding to both sides. The close-by Teatro di San Carlo is the country’s largest and oldest opera house, opposite of which you will discover the Galleria Umberto, a bustling shopping centre full of Neapolitan social life.
On the islet of Megaride, looking out over the Gulf of Naples, is the Castel dell’Ovo, or the Castle of the Egg, a 2,000-year-old fortress built by Frederick II which presents spectacular panoramic views. Created almost 200 years ago, the 30-acre Orto Botanico (Botanical Garden) features a noteworthy collection of flowering plants and large cacti, and is surrounded by massive walls and unique scenery.
Best time to go
As Italy sits in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, the best time to visit Naples is between early spring and mid-summer (March to June), when temperatures hover around 21 to 29°C. These pleasant temperatures make for a pleasant visit, especially when travelling in the countryside or doing outdoor activities.
In late summer, the heat can be overwhelming and the flowers are not in bloom any longer. Keep in mind that during the summer solstice many Italians go away on vacation, while the Christmas week is very chaotic.
Rainy day suggestions
Should the weather turn unpleasant, you will locate numerous indoor attractions in Naples, such as the National Museum of Archaeology displaying the remnants of towns buried during the eruption of Mt Vesuvius. The Naples Aquarium, which houses over 200 species of marine life and is the oldest aquarium on the continent, makes for another outstanding rainy day attraction for the whole family.
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